EXPATRIATE WORK PERMITS EASIER FOR FIJI INVESTORS

SUVA, Fiji Islands (August 30, 2000 - Fiji's Daily Post/The Fiji Times/The
Fiji Sun/PINA Nius Online)---Fiji's new interim government is establishing guidelines
to make it easier for investors to bring in expatriates to help start and manage
their businesses, Fiji's Daily Post reported.

Information Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola yesterday said Cabinet has approved
recommendations put forward by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration,
the Daily Post reported.

These were reached after consultation between the ministries and the Fiji Trade
and Investment Bureau and the Fiji
Employers' Federation.

Ratu Inoke said they are part of a package of measures that the interim government
is considering to increase
investment in the country following the crisis caused by the May 19 takeover
of Parliament by armed rebels.

The planned new guidelines include:

the "key posts" usually reserved for the investor's choice are
not required to be advertised locally;

the "time posts" or specialist positions are not required to be
advertised when an investor is establishing his
or her business but they must be advertised before the work permit renewal
can be considered;

the minimum foreign investment for the investor to qualify for a "key
post" work permit is F$ 50,000 (US$
23,350).

In other measures to streamline immigration procedures:
Central Queensland University Suva campus students will be exempted from the
requirement to lodge a
bond with the immigration department;
religious organizations that do community work can also be exempted from the
bond requirements.

In other developments in Fiji:

The Fiji Times reported a joint army, police and navy operation has arrested
17 rebels who forcibly took
over the luxury Turtle Island Resort in the Yasawa islands in July during
the height of the crisis;

The Fiji Times reported the police force is split over allegiance to Commissioner
Isikia Savua. The report
came as an inquiry into Mr. Savua's alleged activities and movements before
and after May 19 began in
Suva, chaired by Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga.

The Fiji Sun reported members of the deposed People's Coalition Government
are taking out a court
injunction to stop them from being moved out of the government homes they
still occupy.

The Great Council of Chiefs began meeting in Suva to consider the review
of the 1997 constitution.